Etihad Airways hosts workshop

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has hosted a ‘Change for the Better’ event with the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment, to focus on the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region.

The event’s aim was to promote a
sustainable business environment for SMEs, and to enable them to develop their
services and products.

The workshop was designed to promote
interaction between project owners who are financed by the Khalifa Fund and the
individual Mohammed Bin Rashid projects that are trying to build a wider
network of relationships that will increase their efficiency, open new
opportunities and develop business in the region.

Adil Al Mulla, Etihad Airways’ Vice
President of Procurement and Supply Management, said: “As the national airline of the UAE we are committed to playing a vital
role in the community by supporting SMEs across the UAE. Our cooperation with
the Khalifa Fund and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment is recognition of
those individual entrepreneurs. It is their efforts to showcase the airline’s
best policies and practices that have promoted better contracting opportunities
in their businesses.”

Mr Abdulla Al Hameli, Enterprise
Development and Support Department Manager at Khalifa Fund, said: “Etihad Airways played a vital role in
supporting and enabling the fund in conjunction with the Khalifa entrepreneurs.
The Fund will continue to work in order to create suitable growth and the
development of SMEs across the country.

“This workshop offered a prestigious local
platform to exchange knowledge and experiences and discuss the challenges
facing the SME sector in emerging economies and developing countries. At
Khalifa Fund, we are keen to support value-added projects as we recognise the
importance of innovation in developing a knowledge society and a
knowledge-based economy."

Ms. Ibtihal Naji, Director of Corporate
Development at Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment, said: “We are grateful for Etihad Airways’
initiative in organising the ‘Change for the Better’ workshop. There is no
doubt that the workshop has had an impact on enriching the knowledge of members
of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment and informing them about the airline’s
advanced automated purchase system. This will significantly contribute to
raising the efficiency of their products and services. It should also enhance
their position as key suppliers to Etihad Airways.”